Re: Girls Weekend Away in December
A great half-way place between LA and Bay Area is Cambria. It's a coastal town that's easy to get to off of the 101 (about 20 minutes to the coast on highway 146, I believe). It's not super cheap but there are a lot of nice motels and some pricier hotels in town. Not sure what it would run you in the winter for a room. I went last summer at stayed with the family in a suite at the Cambria Pines Lodge - a little fancy and it was definitely on the expensive side ($350/night) but I think you could probably sleep 4 adults per suite. They offer massages on site there to guests and to folks staying in town, I believe, so you could always stay in a hotel and head up to the lodge for a treatment. Many restaurants in town of varying quality. We really enjoyed Robin's for both lunch a dinner. Nina

Our extended family (13, 15 boys, 50ish and 80) is meeting half way in Cambria for a few days to celebrate 80 yr birthdays. We will visit Hearst Castle - but what else is there to do nearby?? Both of the 80 year olds are a bit teetery in their feet. Got any restaurant advice too? 15 year old is skate boarder. trying to avoid teenage misery and find fun!

Downtown Cambria is boutique-y with lots of little local shops - it kind of reminded me of downtown Montclair. There are some decent restaurants.

For little kids there is a pretty nice playground right at the beach. I imagine if the weather is nice, that would be a good spot for a multi-generational picnic. I don't know what to recommend for teens here.

I don't know if the elephant seals will be around at your particular time of year, but if they are, it's an amazing sight. Their reserve is just a few miles up the coast from Cambria.

For us, Cambria was a good jumping-off point for local travels. We spent a couple of days wine tasting in the Paso Robles area, and one day we drove through San Luis Obispo down to Morro Bay (a great place I've visited since childhood!) Morro Bay does have a phenomenal skate park that my 15 year old nephew is nuts about. It's right out at the rock - you can't miss it.

Anyway, good luck. I hope you're staying in a nice place. We rented a house with a view of the ocean, and most days we were quite content to hang out and enjoy the view. central coast lover

There are a number of beaches where you can go boogie-boarding, and you can rent kayaks at several places. (W/ three-year olds in tow, we didn't get out on the water.)

We were told there's a beautiful farm outside town called Linn's, where them make their own ollallieberry pies -- very highly recommended. You can find out more at their restaurant, also called Linn's, which is on the main drag in town. Have fun! alikat

Re: Central Coast Beach with a one-year-old

My cousin got married in Cambria about 2.5 years ago. We got to take a peek at where they were staying--The Fog Catcher Inn. It was very pretty, right by the water. You can check out their Web site at fogcatcherinn.com. Patty

We're looking for a nice place to stay in Cambria (near San Simeon)for a few days in June. We will be a group of 5, including my mother and our two kids, ages 8 and 5. We prefer a place on Moonstone Beach, with a pool, and not too rustic for Mom's sake! Thanks! Seth